New York City is made up of five boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. Each one has enough attractions—and enough personality—to be a city all its own. Learn more about them with this guide.

NYC is rightfully known for its nightlife, whether that means an open bar, an evening of DJs spinning mixes on turntables or a wild scene set around a functioning hot tub in the center of a dance floor. (No, really—that happens.) It's a fact, folks: the City's after-dark entertainment is just as innovative as it ever was. It's often said that New York is the City that never sleeps. In case you were wondering, here are just a few reasons why.

FridaysClub Shade at various locations
Party people Ladyfag and Seva Granik present this occasional barn burner, featuring loud music and a gay crowd. For more info (and visuals that suggest what Flash Gordon might use as a screen saver), visit clubshade.com.

C//TY Club at Bossa Nova Civic Club
Gavin Russom (DFA Records) and Lauren Flax (the band Creep) present this monthly party. Expect special guests, live performances, interesting hairdos and synthesizer sounds. For more info, visit their Facebook page.

DJ Differenc at Berg'n
Every Friday, patrons at this Crown Heights beer hall—from the happy folk behind the Brooklyn Flea and Smorgasburg—enjoy "great tunes." For more info, visit bergn.com.

Fridays at Bill's Place
Tiny Harlem jazz club Bill's Place opened in 2006, but its vibe recalls an earlier time in the neighborhood's famed musical history. (Our inside source describes the venue as "friendly, preservationist, reverent, spirited, welcoming" and, of course, "intimate"—no surprise there, since seats are within touching distance of the musicians.) On Friday and Saturday nights, owner Bill Saxton, who plays sax, leads his Harlem All Stars. For more info and to make reservations, visit billsplaceharlem.com. Also, note: the club is a speakeasy, so it's strictly BYOB.

Girls & Boys at Webster Hall
It takes two to tango—or, in the case of this Webster Hall standard, a crowd of 3,000 ladies and gents in the venue’s Grand Ballroom, as it floods with neon luminance and flashing lights. With a techno throwdown featuring some of the biggest names in dance music, this is not your grandfather’s polka party. Get your groove on to a raw and pumping bass, and hear some of the hippest electronic beats drop at the weekly rave. Past DJs have included MSTRKRFT, Justice, Simian Mobile Disco, Vitalic, A-Trak, Bloody Beetroots, Rusko, Neon Indian and more. For more info, visit websterhall.com.

The Plume Revue at Duane Park
Enjoy live jazz, handcrafted cocktails and a bevy of beauties who (literally) shake their tail feathers. Jo Boobs, Harvest Moon, Gal Friday and others keep the entertainment classy, though not safe for work. For more info, visit duaneparknyc.com.

SaturdaysThe Bunker at various locations
This weekly paean to electronic music aids Brooklyn in the borough’s storied quest for Most Outrageous Sound. Music is courtesy of DJs like Andy Stott and Atom™ (who used to be known as Señor Coconut), plus many, many special guests. For more info, visit beyondbooking.com/thebunker.

Fixed at various locations
JDH and Dave P.'s long-running electronic shindig takes place at cool places all over town (and not just on Saturdays). It's been 10 years of electronically fueled good times—check them out to see why they'll probably be around for at least 10 more. For more info, visit fixednyc.com.

Mr. Choade’s Upstairs Downstairs at The Slipper Room
Expect adult entertainment at this long-running vaudeville-style shindig, where dance acts are punctuated with comedy performances (or is that the other way around?). Either way, this party is NSFW. Not that this party is anything like W at all. For more info, visit slipperroom.com.

Mondo at Cameo
Head to Williamsburg to dance to indie pop at a party that knows its way around rock 'n' roll. Previous editions have paid tribute to patron saints of jingle-jangle British despair Morrissey and Pulp. For the latter, Jarvis Cocker himself manned the decks. For more info, visit their Facebook page.

Party Like It's 1999 at The Bell House
Retro-kitsch is in—was it ever out?—at this monthly party at Gowanus lodestone The Bell House. One recent playlist included "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles and "Crush on You" by Lil Kim. Just so you know what you're getting yourself into. For more info, visit the party's Facebook page.

PrettyUgly at the Diamond Horseshoe
NYC party people Erich Conrad and Drew Elliott are behind this all-star cast of downtown's best and brightest. Go for DJ sets by the likes of Becka Diamond and Tommy Hottpants; stay for hosts like Paper's Mickey Boardman and renaissance personage Hari Nef. Expect surprises. For more info, visit their (NSFW-ish) Facebook page.

Warm Up at MoMA PS1
One of New York City's better outdoor music series returns for another summer at MoMA PS1, in Long Island City. Guests can soak up experimental musical performances every Saturday from June 27 through September 5. The lineup includes live music and DJs—locals like Bobbito Garcia and Baauer, and plenty of international imports as well—along with rotating stage installations designed by NYC artists. For more information, visit momaps1.org.

SundaysFunkbox NYC at Le Poisson Rouge
Dance to deep house at this long-running party. If you bring the moves, DJ Tony Touch will bring the funk. For more info, visit lepoissonrouge.com.

Nouveau York at Le Bain
The good times never stop at The Standard hotel, André Balazs’ west-side party palace, the High Line–straddling edifice whose rooftop lounges have long been inseparable from the City’s nightlife scene. Sundays at Le Bain (one of the aforementioned drinking dens), Nouveau York holds sway from 9pm to 2am. Guest DJs have included Derrick Carter, Dimitri from Paris and Tim Sweeney. For more info, visit their Facebook page.

Scissor Sundays at the Rusty Knot
JD Samson (Le Tigre, MEN) hosts this weekly Sunday afternoon tea dance at the Rusty Knot, a charming space that reminds us of our Uncle Ted's basement—the way it was back in 1982. Enjoy drinks, a convivial LGBTQ crowd and some of the best sunset views around. For more info, visit their Facebook page.

MondaysMobile Mondays! NYC 45's at The Bowery Electric
It's nothing but an old-fashioned good time at this free shindig, where DJs spin 45s of the funk, soul, punk, new wave, pop, salsa, rock, calypso, reggae, R&B and disco varieties (plus, we're sure, a few genres they forgot to mention). For more info, visit mobilemondaysnyc.com.

Deep Space at Cielo
DJ François K. continues to display his love for Jamaican-inspired dub. The weekly celebration of spacey sounds and laid-back dance vibes features frequent guest DJs and a well-heeled crowd of appreciative party people. For more info, visit deepspacenyc.com.

TuesdaysTune In Tuesdays at Bembe
The South Williamsburg lounge hosts this weekly reggae party, helmed by DJ Gringo and his collection of dancehall, lovers rock and other genres more suitable to the Caribbean, but no less welcome in the five boroughs. For more info, visit bembe.us.

WednesdaysLeFreak at Lovegun
The Williamsburg gay bar continues to provide saucy entertainment, with this particular evening being the product of DJ Tyler Stone and host Trey LaTrash. Will there be disco, you ask? Why, yes! For more info, visit Lovegun's Twitter.

Roots at Cielo
Dance lovers get their fix every Wednesday night at this Meatpacking club from DJs Louie Vega and Kevin Hedge. The duo offers a selection of Latin- and jazz-influenced beats, and they help anchor the City's house-music scene. For more info, visit cieloclub.com.

House Party at Webster Hall
Just Blaze and DJ Soul helm this weekly shindig, bringing all things hip-hop to the East Village. Expect special guests and other well-known promoters to help bring the noise, including Va$htie, DJ Huggy Bear and DJ Sliink. For more info, visit websterhall.com.

Input at Output
This weekly party at the Williamsburg dance club features guests like Bonobo (Ninja Tune), Museum of Love (DFA) and Claude VonStroke (Dirtybird). Even if those names mean absolutely nothing to you, know that dancing will occur, and that you should participate. To paraphrase noted 17th-century nightlife theorist Robert Herrick, "Gather ye breakbeats while ye may / Old time is still a-flying." For more info, visit outputclub.com.

The Wiggle Room at The Slipper Room
It's all burlesque all the time at this Lower East Side den of iniquity. Thursday nights' shows are hosted by "Sir Richard Castle," who presides over proceedings that include a buxom troupe of lasses known as "The Wigglettes." In other words, leave the kids at home. For more info, visit slipperroom.com.